By Vicki Brady, EIANZ President
 

The Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand is making changes to underpin the delivery of our new Strategic Plan 2024-27.

EIANZ is restructuring the way it provides staffing support for its key programs: membership and professional development, representation on policy and practice, accreditation of qualifications, and certification of environmental practitioners.

Administrative support for all the Institute’s programs will now be delivered by a single team under the leadership of the EIANZ Executive Officer. Communication and governance processes will be more consistent across the organisation, and core programs including the Certified Environmental Practitioner (CEnvP) Scheme will be better integrated within the Institute. These reforms will be the foundation on which the Institute grows its key programs and initiatives, ensuring a strong and sustainable future for the organisation and the profession.

About the changes 

As you may know, EIANZ is currently reviewing all its by-laws as part of this ongoing modernisation process.

The EIANZ Board, in collaboration with the Advisory Council, is now revising the By-law that governs the Certified Environmental Practitioner (CEnvP Scheme), EIANZ’s most successful initiative to date.

By-law 16 (Certification of Environmental Practitioners) will be revised to ensure that the Institute’s governance processes are contemporary and adaptable, while further protecting the independence and impartiality of the Certification Board’s decision making in accordance with ISO 17024:2013 (a Heads of Environmental Protection Agencies Australia and New Zealand requirement for bodies certifying environmental practitioners). These reforms are not expected to have any impact on the material operation of the Certified Environmental Practitioner Scheme. 

The by-law changes will reframe the responsibilities of the Certification Board, ensuring it can focus on the process of certification. To facilitate this renewal, we will soon be opening Expressions of Interest for a re-formed Certification Board. Previous Certification Board Members will be encouraged to apply for the new Board, and we will also be encouraging applications from other suitably qualified professionals.

Members of the previous Certification Board are to be commended on their fantastic work bringing the Scheme to this point. The EIANZ Board would like to recognise the considerable time and expertise they have contributed as volunteers and looks forward to continuing to work with them in vairous capacities in future.

What does this mean for EIANZ members?

EIANZ membership benefits and fees (including those that relate specifically to CEnvPs) will remain unchanged. All members will benefit from the Institute’s modernisation through improved processes and sustainability into the future.   

EIANZ members and the Institute will also benefit from the additional strength that will come from a more integrated organisation. Better integration of the CEnvP Scheme within EIANZ will allow the Institute to speak with one voice when engaging with government, media, and other key stakeholders, giving the Institute’s voice additional weight when advocating on behalf of the environment profession. As the reputation of the Institute is elevated, the value of membership and certification for individuals will also increase. 

By removing duplication of functions across the Central Office and CEnvP teams, EIANZ will be able to allocate more funds to core functions such as providing professional development opportunities, advocating on behalf of environmental practitioners, and advising federal and state governments on environmental policy. 

There will also be opportunities for additional knowledge exchange through a greater integration of the professional development program with the CEnvP Scheme. The CPD program will be better placed to respond to industry needs, thus providing more value for members.  

A new chapter

Established in 2004, the CEnvP Scheme has grown to become the leading certifying body for environmental and social practitioners in Australia and New Zealand. In the financial year 2022-23, EIANZ certified 125 new practitioners for a record total of over 1,100 CEnvPs. By modernising CEnvP’s governance structures, we will ensure its continued success into the future. 

Established in 2004, the CEnvP Scheme has grown to become the leading certifying body for environmental and social practitioners in Australia and New Zealand. In the financial year 2022-23, EIANZ certified 125 new practitioners for a record total of over 1,100 CEnvPs. By modernising CEnvP’s governance structures, we will ensure its continued success into the future. 

As a Certified Environmental Practitioner myself, I can highly recommend the Scheme as valuable for individual career advancement and for the betterment of the industry. If you have any questions about these changes, I encourage you to reach out to myself or EIANZ’s Executive Officer via email to office@eianz.org.

Vicki Brady
President
Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand